Infiniti JX Crossover Concept

Pardon me, your chariot has arrived…

With the official concept vehicle set to be unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in August, latest concept, dubbed the JX, takes direct aim at the fullsize luxury crossover segment. But does this Infiniti have what it takes to overcome such third-row-equipped stalwarts as Mercedes' R-class, Cadillac's Escalade and Audi's Q7?

From this just-released sketch, it's hard to tell. But we know that the JX will be better than the current full-size SUV, which is essentially a nicely dressed version of Nissan's Armada. The general side profile shows off a good mix of and crossover platforms. With third-row seating, however, the JX will be much bigger, more than likely approaching the size of the current QX. However you feel about the design, it's clear that the styling for this people hauler aims to blend the current clean Infiniti design characteristics with the lines of the Infiniti Essence concept car that was unveiled at the . The net result? A big 7-seat hauler, but with the visual aesthetics of something much smaller.

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Says Carlos Tavares, chairman Nissan Americas: "The all-new Infiniti JX crossover will allow us to continue to expand the Infiniti brand's presence in the Americas. In 2010, Infiniti was one of the fastest-growing luxury brands in the United States, and this year we will expand our presence further to Mexico and Panama, followed by Chile in the first half of 2012."

Overall, we're looking forward to seeing this full-size Infiniti JX crossover when the production version is unveiled at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show. We can expect state-of-the-art telematics and interior design, as is typical of all new Infiniti products. Look for the 2013 Infiniti JX to go on sale in the spring of 2012.

At that point, we'll be able to tell you if this Infiniti is a legitimate rival for the likes of the R-Class, Escalade and Q7...